A Vision of the Body of Christ
A Different Organizational Structure
Virtually every other religious group has organized, or formed an organizational structure. Some structure is needed in any true fellowship - for God is not a disorganized God. But man has organized God right out of their denominations. God cannot move in violation of their Constitution, Rules of Order and Denominational Handbook. God said, build according to the pattern I showed you. Exodus 25:40.
There are four points about the organizational structure of this voluntary association of churches that are different from other Christian groups and denominations.
- Church Membership
Man often builds according to his own plan. For example, most churches have membership rolls or lists. People join through a prescribed process, perhaps by being voted in or by agreeing to abide by some prescribed set of rules. But saints in the churches of the body of Christ cannot be voted in; nor can they be voted out. You don't join the true church; the Lord adds you to it. See Acts 2:41.
In the body of Christ, our only list of members is one written in Heaven. Luke 10:20. The Lord adds to the church - we don't vote them in, and they do not sign some membership form. Acts 2:47.
- Ministerial Hierarchy
Similarly, we have no ministerial hierarchy. That is not to say that every minister is on the same level in God; they aren't. The Apostle Paul was not on the same level as Agabus the prophet, but they each could respect the gift of God in the other's life - and neither tried to rule the other. In the body of Christ, each minister is under the headship of Jesus - and not a supervisor, regional bishop, state overseer or general superintendent.
Philip was not an apostle. He was one of the ministers in the Jerusalem church; an evangelist. The apostles were governing that church. But in Acts 8:5, the Spirit of God directed Philip to evangelize in Samaria. Earlier, Jesus had told His ministers not to go there. Matthew 10:5. But later He prophesied that the church would witness there. Acts 1:8. Significantly, Philip did not need permission of the apostles or any overseer to go to Samaria. Nor did he need any ministerial authorization to go to Gaza. Acts 8:26.
In Acts 11:22, The apostles in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to only as far as Antioch. He was under their ministerial authority. He went no further. That is why he had to bring Saul of Tarsus to Antioch. See Acts 11:25. But Barnabas was free to follow the Lord. When the Holy Ghost directed Barnabas to go further, he didn't have to get permission from Jerusalem. Acts 13:2.
When God calls a man to the ministry, we recognize God's calling, and the presbytery ordains that man, I Timothy 4:4; but we do not "license" him to preach. God gives him license to speak in the name of the Lord - just like He did for Jeremiah, or Saul of Tarsus.
- The Autonomy of the Local Church
Churches in denominations are part of an organizational structure. The local church is not autonomous in many denominations. There are regional councils, state overseers, general superintendents, etc. Many churches cannot even appoint their own pastor, but depend on the denominational office to send them one. Ministers with greater authority can come into the local church and correct situations, change order, etc.
In this fellowship, no other minister has authority in the local church. This is biblical. Paul was an apostle, but he had no authority in the Jerusalem church. See Acts 15.
He wrote that his authority was limited, and did not reach to all churches in the body of Christ, although it did reach to Corinth. "But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ: Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand." II Corinthians 10:13-16.
This is one reason that most churches in this fellowship have local trustees. If foreign ministers were trustees, then that minister might feel he has some authority in the church, and may be tempted to exercise that authority to the detriment of the pastor and elders. In the body of Christ, ministers from other churches are to have influence, but not authority, in the local church. In this fellowship, no church is organized beyond the local level.
- Not an Incorporated Church
Neither our local churches nor our association of churches are incorporated. This distinguishes us from almost every other Christian group. Brother William Sowders called Articles of Incorporation a marriage license with the Beast. Corporations are entities created by the state. A corporation has no legal existence until the government gives it permission to exist. What the state creates; it can regulate, tax, or even destroy. State action can abolish a corporation for a variety of reasons.
Our churches operate as a trust. Title to our property is held by trustees in trust for the benefit of all of the congregation. Trusts are recognized by the state, but are not a creation of the state. We do not believe that the church of the Lord Jesus Christ is submissive to, nor a creation of, the state. We do not believe the church can be regulated nor abolished by the state - like a corporation can.
We believe that incorporation is one of the marks of the beast. Revelation 13:16.
Conclusion
In these five areas, the body of Christ is distinguished from every other Christian movement. This is as it should be; for we have a distinct mission. Let other denominations and fellowships be true to their calling; but let us be true to ours.